The Latest: Ohio man who killed 3 women gets death sentence

CLEVELAND – The Latest on a convicted sex offender being sentenced in the slayings of three women (all times local):

2:40 p.m.

A convicted sex offender has been sentenced to death in Ohio for killing three women and wrapping their bodies in garbage bags.

A Cleveland judge on Thursday followed a jury's recommendation that 38-year-old Michael Madison should be executed for aggravated murder and kidnapping. The judge could have instead chosen life in prison with no chance of parole.

The bodies of 38-year-old Angela Deskins, 28-year-old Shetisha Sheeley and 18-year-old Shirellda Terry were found in July 2013 near the East Cleveland apartment building where Madison lived. Madison told police he strangled two of them but couldn't remember killing the third.

Madison's attorney never contested his guilt at trial. The defense instead focused on saving his life by presenting evidence that Madison suffered lasting psychological damage from abuse as a youngster.

___

1:30 a.m.

A suburban Cleveland man convicted of killing three women and wrapping their bodies in garbage bags is set to learn whether he'll be sentenced to death, as a jury recommended.

The Cuyahoga (ky-uh-HOH'-guh) County judge sentencing Michael Madison on Thursday must decide whether he should die by lethal injection or get life in prison without parole.

A jury convicted Madison on aggravated murder and kidnapping counts last month, then deliberated for less than a day before recommending the death penalty.

Madison's attorneys argued that he shouldn't get a death sentence because of psychological damage caused by child abuse.

He was found guilty of killing 38-year-old Angela Deskins, 28-year-old Shetisha Sheeley and 18-year-old Shirellda Terry. Their bodies were found in July 2013 near the East Cleveland apartment building where Madison lived.